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Vatican Museums Tour: Exclusive Pre-Dawn Access
4.7
69 Ratings
Vatican City
Experience the ultimate Vatican adventure with VIP Key Master’s Tour. Explore the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums before dawn, in complete luxury and exclusivity.
Experience the ultimate Vatican adventure with VIP Key Master’s Tour. Explore the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums before dawn, in complete luxury and exclusivity.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Vatican Museums - Travel with the Vatican’s Key Master as he opens up the Museums, unlocking doors and lighting long, empty galleries for you to explore
- Stanze di Raffaello - The Raphael Rooms are a particular highlight. Often more crowded than the Sistine Chapel, they’re home to a collection of frescoes just as revered by art historians….
- Vatican Museums - Travel with the Vatican’s Key Master as he opens up the Museums, unlocking doors and lighting long, empty galleries for you to explore
- Stanze di Raffaello - The Raphael Rooms are a particular highlight. Often more crowded than the Sistine Chapel, they’re home to a collection of frescoes just as revered by art historians. Visiting alone, you’ll have the space to appreciate them in all their majesty.
- Sistine Chapel - The highlight of your tour will be the opening of the Sistine Chapel, where you’ll enter completely alone and watch Michelangelo’s frescoes flicker to life.
- Cortile della Pigna - Enter the still-closed Pinecone Courtyard passing the crowds who are only now getting inside the doors.
- Sphere within a Sphere - This spectacular bronze globe is the center piece of the Pinecone Courtyard. It was designed for the Vatican by well-known Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro and copies of it can now be found all over the world, including Dublin, Tel Aviv and New York City.
- Vatican City - This tour is in the Vatican City, the center of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope.
What's Included
- Exclusive entrance to the Vatican Museums 2 hours before opening
- Open the Sistine Chapel with the Vatican Key Master
- Fully guided tour of the Sistine Chapel
- Fully guided tour of the Vatican Museums with Official Vatican Tour Guide
- Small group of 15 travelers
- Option to stay in the Vatican for further exploration
- Exclusive entrance to the Vatican Museums 2 hours before opening
- Open the Sistine Chapel with the Vatican Key Master
- Fully guided tour of the Sistine Chapel
- Fully guided tour of the Vatican Museums with Official Vatican Tour Guide
- Small group of 15 travelers
- Option to stay in the Vatican for further exploration
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Additional Information
This singular, extraordinary tour provides the ultimate Vatican encounter beyond belief. Step into the Vatican museums before sunrise, accompanied by the Museums’ Key Keeper. Accompany him as he unlocks the serene and quiet galleries letting you absorb Italy’s most cherished jewel in splendid isolation. For two incredible and unforgettable hours, you’ll…
This singular, extraordinary tour provides the ultimate Vatican encounter beyond belief. Step into the Vatican museums before sunrise, accompanied by the Museums’ Key Keeper. Accompany him as he unlocks the serene and quiet galleries letting you absorb Italy’s most cherished jewel in splendid isolation. For two incredible and unforgettable hours, you’ll traverse the vacant Museums, exploring the most inspiring sites such as the Raphael Rooms and - pinnacle of exclusivity - a vacant Sistine Chapel.
- The tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
Location
Vatican Museums
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Vatican Museums Entrance. Your guide will be waiting on the short flight of stairs in front of the entrance door.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(69 Ratings)
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William_m
Oct 4, 2024
Over all great tour - Great tour, would definitely do again, the best way to see Vactican Museum and the Sistine Definitely worth the money
Review provided by Viator
A5049wtianw
Sep 22, 2024
Even with its flaws, absolutely worth it - To be brief: what you are paying for is the ability to experience the Sistine Chapel without it feeling like a zoo. It's worth the early wake up, it is absolutely worth the money to be in there when they turn on the lights for the day. The map gallery, the Raphael rooms, the views as the sun rises- it is all magic and justifies the price tag.
This is not a traditional tour- ultimately, the keymaster has a job to to do and it has to be done by a certain time. You will move through the galleries at a fairly swift pace, but once the tour is over you can stay in the museums for as long as you want.
Unfortunately our guide was very passionate but also largely incomprehensible. While they can be a bit naff, the portable audio headsets would be very helpful. Since the tour moves so quickly, the clarity of the guide's evident passion was lost due to pace and accent. A headset would have really helped, even in such a small group. We gave up trying to listen to the guide but still had a unique and wonderful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifercp1592sx
Sep 22, 2024
Experience of a lifetime - must do! - An unforgettable experience. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to tour the Vatican Museum and see the Sistine Chapel with a group of 20 people starting at 6 am without the public. It was worth every penny. Being able to open the doors to each room and experience the lights being turned on was spectacular - words can’t even describe how incredible and special the experience was. Sitting in the Sistine Chapel for like 15 minutes just soaking it all in with only our small group was extraordinary. 5+++ stars.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cjmaallaa
Sep 16, 2024
Worth every penny! - It was our first visit to the Vatican Museum & we decided to splurge on the Keymaster’s Tour & we are so happy we did! Our guide was amazing & it was a magical experience getting to walk through the empty galleries with only our small group of 20 in the whole place. We got absolutely gorgeous photographs and loved being able to walk right up to anything we wanted and check it out without feeling rushed or jostled by a big crowd. That early in the morning the temperature was cooler too which was great. Can’t say enough good things about this experience- highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sascha
Sep 13, 2024
Spectacular a must experience - Absolutely the best experience iv ever done. If you want to experience something spectacular then book this tour. Open doors, tuen on lights be the only one in the Sistine Chappel. Save and spend the money. 5 ⭐️experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
155morgank
Sep 6, 2024
The best way to see the Vatican Museum! - EXCELLENT! I was so impressed by this tour! Going into the Vatican a full two hours before it opens was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Our guide was friendly and guided us through the museum while telling us about the history of different pieces. Seeing the Gallery of Maps and Sistine Chapel alone was incredible!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Catherine_s
Aug 31, 2024
Unforgettable experience! - Unforgettable! Rose was a great tour guide. Loved the small intimate nature and being able to see a lot of rooms not available to the general public.
Review provided by Viator
Doried733
Jul 31, 2024
Key Master's Vatican Tour - We did the Key Master's Tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with Walks Tour in July 2024 and it was FANTASTIC! Being there before the Museum is open and going through the entire space to unlock it all with only 20 visitors was a magical time that we will not forget! I can't imagine visiting it any other way now. There is so much amazing art to see and learn about. Of course, seeing Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings in person is surreal. Our tour guide, whose name I think was Juliana (and I feel like a fool for not remembering it) was the star of the tour. She was so knowledgeable and friendly and warm. I can't recommend this tour enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N1852plhelenam
Jul 20, 2024
Incredible tour! - Paolo was amazing and the tour of the crypts was incredible! Best day of our trip in Rome. Can not say enough good things about this guide or this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luisbt1574pr
Oct 13, 2024
Disappointed - Unfortunately, my experience was less than stellar. At the start of my tour I fell into a fountain and was dripping wet from top to bottom. I ended up having to go through the tour soaking wet. I felt pressured to go through the tour all wet and was never offered to come back on another day or another alternative arrangement to come back at a later time. Given that I spent hundreds of dollars ($682 to be exact) on this tour, I simply walked the next hour and a half dripping wet. My camera was drying along the way.
Moreover, I couldn’t even hear the tour guide. I was surprised that we didn’t have headphones to allow us to experience our surroundings while taking in the history.
I’ve provided feedback but never received any communication from the tour company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
